The majority of children across U.S. schools typically begin their encounter with art in the elementary school phase of life. The easiest introduction to a world full of creativity for these young minds consists of the simplistic yet beautiful form of artistic expression called coloring. By using utensils and supplies such as paints, colored pencils, crayons or markers, these preadolescent children can add color to a blank canvas in a fairly mindless way.

With anxiety and mental health issues arising in today’s world, people require a creative outlet that alleviates stress and provides comfort in their everyday routine. For most, coloring could bridge that gap and supply a feeling of nostalgia and relief.  

“Numerous studies have found that coloring reduces stress. Activities like coloring require repetition and attention to detail, quiet the amygdala—the fight-or-flight center of the brain—and provide relief from anxiety and stress. There is also evidence that coloring can improve mood, mindfulness, and even sleep,” Jenifer Buckle of Adult Coloring Masterpiece said. 

Coloring stands as a very beneficial activity for mental, physical and emotional health. In specific, mental health sees a noticeable improvement. Attention flows away from ourselves onto a paper or picture and relaxes the brain. On a day-to-day basis, most humans face taxing or pressuring situations that demand consistent performance. This pressure could consist of anything like providing for a family, running a business or even belonging to the military. Similar to sports, exercise or other arts and crafts, coloring remains a creative outlet that allows people to escape their reality. The low stakes of this activity do not demand perfection, attention to detail, or complete focus. 

“Coloring is something that I do in between games or when I get free time in my classes. I always feel like I can let myself go and take a nice mental break from whatever I’m doing. It’s something everyone can do. Whether you purchase a coloring book from, like, Target, or just print out paper online. I’d love to see teachers offer this or maybe a coloring club starting one day at NC,” senior Maddie Diaz said.

Unlike sports and other creative outlets, coloring does not require much money. This art form can consist of hundreds of coloring pencils and an entire coloring book, or even just a coloring page printed off the internet. Low-cost outlets like these appeal to a large audience, creating a potential market for coloring consumers. 

Coloring tops the charts as the most beneficial activity. After becoming a hot trend in the late 2010s, the community continues to rally around it. The creative aspects remain endless and provide tangible art for people to work on. 

“Many people find a lot of satisfaction from seeing and displaying the results of their creative process. Seeing art you’ve created on your wall has the power to not only lift your negative mood but also give you confidence,” Elvira Veksler of The Ladders magazine said.